Clearing the Air: How a New Roof Transformed a School in Bosnia

For years, the Ivan Goran Kovačić Primary School in Gradac stood beneath a silent threat.

The roof that sheltered 686 students and 71 staff members was made of a material once praised for its durability, now known for its deadly impact: asbestos. Asbestos fibres, when airborne and inhaled, can cause long-term, irreversible damage to human health, especially for children whose lungs are still developing.

Despite concern from parents and the community, the school simply couldn’t afford the cost of safe removal and replacement. Removing asbestos requires more than a ladder and hard hat. It demands specialist equipment, trained professionals, and regulated disposal. Even with the support of the Ministry of Education in Tuzla Canton, which identified 55 schools in need of roof replacement, help was out of reach.

Then came a turning point.

Professor Karic Selmir, the school’s headteacher, is a dedicated educator and father of two. He is also a cancer survivor. For Professor Selmir, the risk posed by the asbestos roof was not just professional. It was deeply personal.

When Muslim Aid partnered with the school through a Memorandum of Cooperation, the transformation began. The asbestos roof was fully removed and replaced with a safe, modern metal structure, complete with insulation to protect against leaks and future damage. What was once a risk to students’ health is now a secure, welcoming environment where education can thrive.

But the impact didn’t stop at the roof. Muslim Aid also supplied new teaching aids and equipment for classrooms, improving the learning experience and helping students reach their full potential.

“For many years, we were unsuccessful in finding the funds to replace the school’s roof,” said Professor Selmir. “We are incredibly grateful to Muslim Aid for helping us do so.”

This construction project reconstructed the protection of young lungs, restoring peace of mind, and ensuring that a school long burdened by an invisible threat can now focus on what truly matters: learning.

Thanks to your support, hundreds of children in Gradac can now study and grow in safety.